Latest news with #Stokies
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent street plagued by fly-tipping shut
A street in Stoke-on-Trent described as being a "magnet for fly-tipping" has been closed until 2027 in an attempt to tackle the behaviour and illegal dumping on unoccupied Pyenest Street in Shelton has been going on for years, the city council barriers are being installed to try to prevent more waste being dumped, ahead of the derelict land being cleared in readiness for redevelopment, which local business owners have council says it then plans to give the green light to the construction of up to 141 homes on the site. Tim Sherwin owns Stoke Flame, a fireplace business that looks out onto the land, and has a car park on a corner of said staff have to apologise to customers for the state of Pyenest Street"It's been a central hub and hotspot for fly-tipping, drug dealing, stolen vehicles, prostitution, and there's quite a few homeless people living in these derelict businesses opposite us," he saidMr Sherwin said as "proud Stokies" they do not want to move out of the area they have been based in since 1970, but it is embarrassing, and they welcome the prospect of the site being re-developed."Anything is going to be better than what we've got at the minute," he added. Kishore Jammula has owned nearby Indian Restaurant Mirchi since 2012 and is pleased that redevelopment work is planned."It is really good for me, and the whole community around it," he said, describing repeated fly-tipping on Pyenest Street as "very frustrating."The road closure will be in place until 1 May 2027, with some of the remaining buildings on the site set to be demolished in the near future, subject to consents, added the council."This area has been a magnet for illegal dumping for some time. It has also attracted anti-social behaviour," said councillor Amjid Wazir OBE."The area has so much potential to be a cleaner, greener and safer corner of the city." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Giant oatcake card and stories to mark Stoke-on-Trent at 100
BBC Radio Stoke has been marking the city's hundredth anniversary by gathering local stories and asking residents to sign a giant oatcake birthday team will be out and about across Stoke-on-Trent over the coming months, collecting both messages and "Stokie stories".The tales from the six towns are to be gathered into an exhibition of photos and audio recordings going on display later this year at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley."We want to grab a snapshot of the city's characters," a radio station spokesperson explained. The BBC team is hoping to speak to 100 people in total, to mark 100 years since the city was officially federated, with some of the stories also played out on air."Whenever you ask people what makes Stoke Stoke, the answer is always: the people," the spokesperson added."So, we're going out and talking to as many of those people as possible to hear their stories to what makes them who they are." One of the 100, funeral director Michael Dadge, has been living in the city for about 20 years and described it as a "fabulous" place with "lovely people"."Stoke sometimes gets a bad rap," he said. "People outside Stoke are very quick to criticise."But he said the community spirit was evident daily, with volunteers going out litter picking and caring for the place they called home. Another is Nikki Gallagher, who runs a peer support service for new mothers and moved to Stoke-on-Trent from Scotland a decade ago."Moving down here, the warmth and the sense of community is something Stokies don't give themselves enough credit for," she said."They have been so welcoming, and there's a real sense of camaraderie amongst a lot of the community groups."She added she had picked up some of the city's dialect and now often referred to people as "duck" and "shug". Meanwhile, it was random luck that brought Sue Smith to the city about nine years ago with her late husband spent more than 30 years in Canada, she found herself looking for somewhere new to settle in the UK and closed her eyes, waved her finger over a map and landed on Stoke-on-Trent."I really like the people," she living in the city for almost a decade, she confessed she had only recently tried her first oatcake – one of the staples of the city's culinary offering. Footballer Beans, who plays for Stoke City FC's Under 11s, has been playing for her local side for nearly a year and has ambitions to one day represent said it felt "really good" to be signed to the Potters, with dad Shaun adding: "I've got tears in my eyes now, thinking about it." Stokie stories will be a curated collection of voices from about 50 locations visited by the team throughout 2025, including Trentham Gardens, The Potteries Centre and Longton Exchange. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent plans cream tea world record attempt
A city-wide cream tea party is being planned for a world record attempt to mark Stoke-on-Trent's 100th aim is to gather the largest number of people taking part in a simultaneous cream tea party across multiple venues - from garden gatherings and office events to street parties and family are being asked to organise simultaneous events at 11:00 BST on 8 current record is held by Yorkshire Building Society, secured in 2015 with 667 members of staff taking part across six different sites. "Stoke-on-Trent is a brilliant city, and this feels a perfect way to honour the city's 100-year celebrations and bring communities together," said Nicky Twemlow from YMCA North Staffordshire, which is one of the organisations that has signed up to take part. Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Lyn Sharpe said the city's tea sets were famous all around the world, and that she could not think of a better way for Stokies to get together."I can't wait to sit down, enjoy a friendly chat with others and tuck into a tasty cream tea," she said."Many organisations are working behind the scenes to make this special event attempt happen as part of our centenary year celebrations. I'd like to thank them for pulling it all together."The event is also being supported by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, the Community Foundation for Staffordshire, Made in Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent College, VAST, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Ambassador Theatre Group. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
